Mary Gilbert Walk from Welford Wharf

 

Tuesday 26th July

Suggested Welford walk to Marta. I drove over and on to Welford along A14. We parked near The Welford Wharf Inn, with its beer garden.

There is a board with several suggestions for walks. We decided on the Mary Gilbert Walk starting with the hillier part.

It was a bit tricky to work out the start at first. We enlisted the help of a passing couple and their dogs, and soon found the way. We passed a garden with phlox, where the two men told us they attract hummingbird hawk moths… As a side note, there were a couple of these one morning on our buddleia at home!

Then along the canal - pause-café, when Marta spotted a bullfinch. We saw several boats.

Dryad’s saddle

and later met the couple who’d given us advice earlier. 

Back to the wharf, via the marina,

and to the pub for lunch. Another place that insists on giving cups of tea in cardboard cups, though beer seems to come in glasses for outside. Good vegetarian sausage sandwich. 

Just over 5 miles.

Market Harborough to Foxton Locks and back

The same 12 mile walk as last Thursday, with Norma, Maureen, Kate and Harry.

This time we did the detour via the ten-lock staircase before an early lunch at Bridge 61 pub.

Weather brighter than on Thursday, but a chill wind, and we got back just as it started to rain.

Market Harborough to Foxton Locks and back

Thursday 05 March 2020.  A 12 mile flat walk, almost all along the canal towpath. With Eddie and Maureen. Dry, grey and muddy after earlier rain.

Reflections in the greylight

One of the millennium mileposts erected by Sustrans and the national Cycle network. This one, about 1 and a half miles from the Locks, needs some TLC. There is another by the Welland in Harborough, looking much smarter.

This is part of a time trail puzzle. Unfortunately some ejects have nicked some of the discs, making the puzzle impossible to complete now. For more info on these millennium  posts click here

Eddie and Maureen descend the slightly slippery cobbles of Bridge 61, before we go into the pub of the same name.

Into the Bridge 61 pub for coffee and cake...or a pint...and still a cake.

Spring is springing

Maintenance of the flight of ten locks

and back to the start.

We ended the walk with a sandwich and coffee in Market Harborough's Eco Village.